Streaming birefringence in simple fluids under high shear rate is studied by use of Molecular Dynamics Calculations. Liquids of rigid spherical particles such as argon atoms are known to show no streaming birefringence since streaming birefringence is understood as due to geometrical anisotropy or deformation of molecules.
However, high shearing forces may result in structural distortions in fluids and the anisotropy caused by the structural distortion may be appreciable at high shear rates.
In this work streaming birefringence of argon liquid near its triple point is obtained with Molecular Dynamics Calculation, and the results are compared with theoretical values calculated on the basis of the generalized radial distribution function.
The results obtained from MD calculation are large ($~10^{-3}$ at ρ=0.8442, T=0.7220 and $\acute{\epsilon}$=0.01) but ten times larger than those predicted from the theory.